More people than ever are going online for their music. From the CD to the MP3, Amazon to Zavvi, here is a breakdown on where and how to get your fix.

Quick, easy and cheap: these are the watchwords of tomorrow's shopper. At the touch of a button, the consumer has a wealth of music at their disposal, with the ability to make playlists, share with friends and ship to your doorstep. The dizzying array in platform choice is even more shocking when you consider that iTunes, the leading share-taker in online downloads, only went live six years ago. So what caused the boom?

The concept of online music originated from the very thing it was trying to stop - internet music piracy. Peer-to-Peer unrestricted mp3 downloads threatened to have catastrophic effects on CD sales but in the fight against unauthorised free download services (such as Kazaa and bitTorrent) the industry decided that if it couldn't beat them, it could join them - for a small fee, of course. Arguably, piracy provided the construct and the impetus behind many of the legal sites available today, and its threat continues to instil a competitive nature of ‘one-upmanship'. Online sites are continually changing their formats to bring the consumer new, innovative ways of buying and listening to legal, good quality music. But which store is for you?

iTunes is the most famous and successful store, accounting for more than 70% of online music sales. It's clean, slick lines and fast download times have made it an instant hit with consumers. The iTunes library effortlessly stores your online purchases and allows you to burn CDs into playable format. You don't have to spend hours typing in the track names either, as their online database automatically recognises the digital signature of the CD and does it for you. It's not only music - iTunes now boasts an array of alternative media. You can now download podcasts, TV shows and movies and the touch of a button.
BEST FOR: Those with Apple-mania - iTunes only syncs with the iPod, iphone and Apple Mac to provide a smooth and professional service.

eMusic holds the second largest market share to iTunes but is in many ways its junior - in catalogue numbers and sales. However, it is by far the cheapest service around, costing just 27 cents per track with its premium plan. It rose to fame with an ‘all-you-can-download' one-off purchase, but in these troubled times has had to withdrawn this service. Naysayers voice concerns that it's catalogue contains no major artists, but as yet it is expanding.
BEST FOR: Those looking for low cost music from independent labels.

Amazon mp3 was the first service to provide music from major record labels, and boasts a simple, easy-to-use download service. Amazon itself is a well-established site, from which you can already buy CDs, and thus provides a major platform for everyone to discover the joys of digital music. Its downloadable application can be used with any of the Windows, Mac or Linux machines on the market, and like iTunes, audiobooks, movies and TV shows can be downloaded digitally too.
BEST FOR: Those who are new to music downloading - buying under the well-established Amazon brand is comforting for the consumer.

Napster and Rhapsody both now function in similar ways, although Napster used to function as an illegal peer-to-peer store before it's' conversion. Both offer legal mp3s, which can be converted for use on any portable media player. The real benefit to using these platforms are the extras you gain with them; Napster offers excellent pre-programmed playlists and reviews, whilst Rhapsody allows 25 full track previews a month. Beware though, as this content is only currently available through Windows.
BEST FOR: The real music lover. Intelligent playlists and editorial content help the consumer accurately discern which track they want.

And finally, Deezer and Spotify are both music streaming sites. These sites offer the listener the chance to hear songs without actually owning the source file. Streaming is limited to an internet connection, but is free. Streaming costs are paid for with occasional advertisements - like listening to the radio, except you control the playlist. Deezer was the first streaming site within France to organise this deal with publishers, with Spotify following close behind. Spotify has yet to diversify from the computer, with the track listings available in a customizable download box, whilst Deezer has launched an iPhone application which allows the user to listen to Deezer Radio on the move, with an internet connection. Finally, both sites allow the user to join on a premium plan package, which removes the advertisements and allows ceaseless, streaming musical bliss!
BEST FOR: Those with a diverse taste and little money. Spotify allows a playlist to be made and sent to mates in the form of a link - the perfect alternative to a mix-tape.